COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11692, 19 September 1903, Page 9

COMMERCIAL.

." ; '* LONDON, September 17. «■ „ t fib 15s per ton; Copper-On spot, *» * IttO months, £56 5s per »n. Lead ' £ V lauded the following The sak, n-l Moa clips:-longbn« «J -W Vbtod U*W» UJj a la i offers Amenselection of crossonu "its* * ip.y -—» $ 23,367,000 M THE SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET. t , rBESS ASSOCIATION" TKLEOB.AM.) WELLINGTON, September 13. 0 report, lias been received |JJlfcpanine..to[ i l l i l stnes n ? d Urns|£Le from .Mr Goir in South Africa :- demand is quiet, and parcels New Zealand aw offeilng as low as; 5a lid ci'f., without business. Braii-lhe tone is fairlv good, but prices have weeded for indent purposes. Pot at oes-1 he market s about the »me as the last report, lhcr* is a fair!; - g'"" 1 enquu-y lor seed potatoes. There is a good enquiry for onions, and the market-is hardening. The price on not, wholesale, is 2M j*-r lb, duty paid. Butter is rather better, but pieces are no • as operators are rather frightened ISiS bin* Now Zealand butter in view of the taected lower prices of Victorian butter. eesfi New Zealand, 9M to ■}lod per lb. Fowls meet with moderate enquirks.'' f Messrs Dalgety and Company, Limited, have received the following cable mesgage from their London office, doted 17th- ■ ■ i ns t.:— ; -11ie frozen mutton market is firm, without change in prices. Frozen lamb and beef market is weak, but prices ■ ate not quotably changed." • . GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS. (BY OXTR COMMiiiCIAI, EDITOR.) . ■ *" Friday Evening. Many inquiries continue to" be received 'from farmers and others, saya "The Australasian," regarding the probable opening - txport prices for wheat should a large exportable surplus be gathered in this and • other States. So far prospects for good ' pfice.3 are very satisfactory. Freights are low, late miriness having been done on the basis of 22s 6d for handy sized vessels, ""' January-February loading, which is 10s to 15s par ton cheaper than when the last exportable surplus of extent was gathered. Working* expenses have also been reduced ■ by the cheaper cost of cabling. Prices in Europe,, there is every indication, will reJJroaw firm, particularly for white wheats. t&The European production is short this seapon, and it is also particularly noticeable that the wheat yields on the Pacific Slope of America are short. Californian wheats being in limited supply there should be an increased demand for the excellent Australian white wheats. The total grain pro- ' dnction of the United States and Canada i will probably show a fair increase, but the consumption is also continually expanding 'ill these countries. Prices will probably at about 32s to 33s per quarter 'ci.f. for white wheats up till the end of the . year. Then a large surplus in Australia, ■ if followed by a big Argentine yield, may alter the position. Present ideas range from about 3s 2d to 3s 3d per bushel f.o.b. as opening prices for the new season. Even these rates may be exceeded if the Argentine Iharvest be poor. The same paper further states:—On the 4th inst. waa completed the formation of the pool of the principal holders of imported . wheat in Melbourne and Sydney, and the , market has since been firmer in tone. It ':. . .is understood that prices as fixed are to be .-' on euch a basis that market values will be " practically little changed. The arrangement has been made with the view of securing unanimity amongst holders, and the stocks have been placed in the hands of trustees to deal with. The preliminary investigations into the stocks in Sydney and •. Melbourne have led to.the conclusion that the total is much lighter than was lately supposed, and that unless the new crop i 6 : ready for gristing early, there may yet be a pinch. l ' On the formation of the pool, there I was at once an active demand from millers '..".Jot'outside parcels, and a good business | rtjrM done at firm rates. The pool quota- ... tions 'in Melbourne are 4s for Argen'.'•;;tine, n<i f or Red and White Walla . - Walla, and 5s OJu for 'Blue Stem and CallI fornian choice milling. The Sydney quotations are 4s 9d for Argentine, 4s 10£d for Walk Walla, 5s Id for Blue Stem, and 5s 6d for South Australian, A return was compiled towards the end of last month, says the "Sydney Mail," showing the amount of stocks of wheat and flour . iu bond in the various States of the Commonwealth. The stocks of wheat in Sydney amounted to 375,088 bushels, the stocks of flour in Sydney to 480,300 bushels, the stocks of wheat and flour in port, but not bonded, to 360,000 bushels, or a total stock not duty paid of 1,215,388 bushels. The stocks of wheat and flour in Melbourne amounted to 860,686 bushels ditto in port, and not bonded 137,000 bushels, total Mel- :. .bourne stocks not duty piid 987,686 bushels. .''•■; The stocks of flour in bond in Brisbane -.amount to 15,100 bushels. Thestocks of wheat 'and flour in bond in Tasmania and Western I' Australia may be estimated at 90,000 bushels, thus making an aggregate stock of breadstuffs in bond in Australia of 2,308,174 bushels. There is m addition about 1,150,000 • bushels still to arrive from foreign ports, making a total supply of 3,458,174 bushels, to carry us on until next harvest comes along. The point as to whether this is iufiicient or cot is the one on which the wi eat combine is at present backing its opinion. In this connection it is only fair j| to state, however, that there are a good % few well informed members of the grain | trade who are firmly of the opinion that there" is quite sufficient to do for this periou. ." Our London ■ correspondent, writing on , August 15th, says:—The National Mortpge and Agency Company note that New ;: Zealand oats are steady; Canadians are quoted at about 255, Cartons and Sparirowbills at 22s to 245, Duns at 2& to 23s ' per 3841 b ex-store. Beans meet a slow trade, lino old New Zealand about 375, butnew light-coloured samples not more than 32s to 33s per 5041 b ex-store. The New Zealand 'Loan and Mercantile Agency Company report a more active demand in cocksfoot, with a fair amount of business; prices are firm, and are inclined to liarden, the quotation given being 171 b bright seed 475, and 161 b medium at 44s 6d per cwt., ci.f.

There has been a fair enquiry for wheat during (lie week, but buyers are not keen to do business at the prices asked. A fewsales have, however, taken place to fill immediate requirements.' A line of Pearl has been sold by the grower at 4s, delivered at the mill, and a- merchant reports the following sales: —SOO sacks each of Banter's and Tuscan at equal to 4s Id f.0.b., and a line of Pearl at 4a, and Tuscan at 3s lOd at a country station, Pearl forming the larger proportion. Oats are now offering somewhat freely, several large growers having offered their stocks. For "long oats, for which Is 8d at country stations was refused some time ago, Is 6d is now being asked, but without reiult. A fair quantity has been bought for shipment to South Africa by the Kinclune, but the outlook is now not very promising in view of die fact that no* more sjiace is available at cheap freights by . direct steamer for London. The next steamer for South Africa, the Dorset, will, howsver, take a quantity, but these shipments will afford little relief when the large , Blocks still held are considered. A line g of extra good Sparrowbills has been placed 1 at Is 7|d. and long oats at Is 5d to Is sjd nt country stations. |jp Oatsheaf ehsff is being offered freely, but is very dull of sale at quotations. ;■ . There is very little business doing in I potatoes, orders from outside being few I A considerable quantity of potatoes that • were rejected at port have been consigned i 1 to Auckland on growers' account, and this m has affected the market somewhat. The ,; demand for early seed kinds is now prac- ! tically exhausted, but there is some inquiry ■ for seed Derwents. I ■ The following are current prices paid to

farmers, free of commission, except- where otherwise specified: Wheat —Pearl 4s to 4s Id, Tuscan and Hunter's Zw lOd, at country stations. Oats—Heavy Canadians Is 8d to Is B£d, short, feed Is 6d to Is 7d, Duns Is 6d, and Danish Is 5d to Is 6d, at country stations. Barley (nominal) —Prime malting 3s to 3s 3d, feed 2s 6d to 2s 7d, at country stations. Peas (nominal). Beans—2< 9d to 3s, at country stations. Fiour (millers' quotations) —Roller £9 105 per ton. Pollard—£4. Bra:.—£3. Oatmeal—£9. Cocksfoot, 101 b teed, 2>d: 111 b. 2|d to 3d; 121 b to 1311), 3!d to 3kl; 141 b, 3Jd to 3|d. White Clover—Superior Sd to 10J, good 81 to 3d. inferior 6d to 8d per lb. Cowyrast:—Extra good 7£d to Bd, lower quaiitv Gd to 7d per lb. O.a'.heaf Chaff—£2 ss, at country station';. Potatoes—Derwents, £2 10s to £2 12s 6d. at eoui.-try stations. Dairy Product—Cheese, factory. to j 6d: dairv, £d to sid; loaf cheese, od to 6Jd; butter, factorv, local, 12{A; North Island, lOd to lid] f.0.b., Wellington; | fanners' separator, 10d to lid; dairy. 3d j Hi 9d for prime; salt (in boxes), 8d to i 9d; bacon. 7id to hams, Bld to 9Jd, f.0.b.; eggs, lOd par dozen. '• AST! BURTON. , Our Ashburton correspondent writes: Wheat—Enquiry has again fallen off, and little or no business has resulted. Quotations remain practically unaltered, but as | no sales have been reported, these are- | merely nom'inal. At the same time the' scarciiy'of prime grain available must have shown'itvelf to millers, who may have some difficulty later on in securing their requirements in this class of grain. Values ate: —Pearl 3s lid to 4s, Tuscan 3s lOd, Hunter's 3s 9d to 3s lOd. Oats—Beyond a few lines of short feed little has been done. Farmers are more inclined to place holdings on the market, and several lints of Duns a'nd Dai'ish have been offered, but without result. To-day's quotations are: —Canadians Is 7d, Is Bd, short feed Is 6d. Duns and Danish Is 4£d. Oatsheaf Chaff—There is more enquiry and a fair quantity has been sold during the week at 50s on'trucks for prime bright heavy quality. THE TIMARU MARKETS. Our Timaru coifretspondent writes:—« No business has been passing during the past week, and merchants state that there is little prospect of any until growers lessen their reserves. Spring threshing is now in full swing, and farmers are asking 4s for Red Chaff, and 4s Id and 4s 2d for prime Tuscan and Velvet, while the most that millers and merchants arc prepared to give is, 3s 8d for the former. and up to 3s lOd for the latter. The onts market is also at a standstill, but a few growers arc now shipping to London. No reliable quotation can be given for oats. Fowl wheat still finds a ready sale at from 3s to 3s 6d, while in barley there is very little doing. Feed can be sold at up to 2s 6d per bushel, while malting is worth 3s 3d. The potato market has shown a slight improvement during the week, prime Derwents now fetching £2 15s per ton, at country stations. Oatmeal is selling at £9 10s, bran at £2 15s, pollard at £3 6s, and flour at £lO per ton, f.o.b. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SHIPMENTS. The following were the and produce shipments from Lyttelton' £>r the week ended Friday:—For Australia: 235 sks bran; coastwise: 6032 sks wheat, 5551 sks oats, 30 sks barlev, 306 sks bran, 1853 sks and 1858 bags flour, 4873 sks potatoes, 1292 sks sharps. Total shipments: 6032 sks wheat, 5551 sks oats, 30 sks barley, 541 sks bran, 1853 sks and 1858 bags flour, 4873 sks potatoes, 1292 sks sharps. LAND SALES. Messrs H. Matson have sold, on account ■ of"Mr Frederick Crowe, his farm at East Oxford, comprising 190 acres, more or less, to Mr John Rossiter. CATTLE SALES. At Little River, on Thursday, Messrs H. Mateon and Co. held a special cattle sale. The rough weather of a fortnight ago prevented a large number of entries. Good lines of store cattle met keen competition from buyers from the Bays round the Lake flats, almost every line ©hanging hands. Three-year-old' forward steers made £8 12s 6d, two-year-olds £5 14s, 12 to 18 months old £4 Bs. two-year heifers £4 10s, calves £2 10s, fat cows £7 to £9, store cows £5 10s to £6 12s 6d, springing heifers £5 5s to £7 10s. FRUIT. There h an improvement in the fruit market. There is a good demand for Island oranges, but the last shipment did not arrive in good order. Sydney oranges are firmer in consequence. There is a plentiful supply of lemons, and they arc slow of sale. The market is bare of banaiius. Wholesale quotations are:—Apples, cooking 4s to 6s 9d, dessert 5s to 7s 6d per case; tomatoes, hothouse Is 8d per lb; bananas, ripe up to 13s, green 7s to 10s per case; oranges, Island, prime, 9-inch case 9s to 105'63, re-packed 6-inch case 8< to 9s 6d, Sydney ohoice 7s to Bs, prime 5s 6d to 6s per case; mandarins, choice 7s to Bs, prime 5s 6d to 6s 6d, small 4s 6d to 5s 6d per case; lemons, Mildura Bs, Sydney choice 6s to 7s, medium 4s 6d to 5s 6d, New Zealand 4s 6d to 5s per case; Sevilles, Auckland Poorraans 8s to 10s 6d pei* case; cocoanuts, 8s per sack; peanuts, to 3d per lb; dates, 4£d per lb. VEGETABLES. The veeetable market is fairly well supplied. Rhubarb is now offering. Wholesale prices are:—Rhubarb, 7s to 9s per dozen; cabbages, Is to 2s 6d per dozen; cauliflowers, 2s to 4s 6d per dozen; parsnips. 2s 9d per sack; onions, Victorian 4s 9d cwt., local strings 4s to 6s per cwt.; Derwents 6s per sack, Kidney, Beauty Hebron, Early Rose, about 5s per sack.